A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) by Nikki Lynn Barrett Page B

and jiggled the handle. Did Carrie come back to finish the job? Had she been scoping the place out?
    The sounds continued. Becca bolted to their room in the dark and tripped over something in the middle of the hall. She met the floor with a loud thud. The tea kettle screamed in the kitchen.
    The door to the room she shared with Hunter opened and light poured out. Hunter ran out and flew to her side.
    "Bec, what's going on? What are you doing out here? What's all the noise?" He helped her up, his steady, warm hands a slight comfort.
    She trembled as she tried to explain. "Someone's in the backyard! I found the back door open slightly and then a shadow approached!"
    "Shit!" Hunter shouted. "Angel, go in the room with Rissi. Stay there until I tell you otherwise." He didn't give her time to answer and ran down the stairs.
    Becca climbed to her feet and stared down at what she'd tripped on. A purse. When she went downstairs, she'd gone to the other side of the hallway before, never noticing the purse laying there.
    Rissi's purse!
    On high alert, she ran into Hunter's office where a bed had been set up for Rissi. Becca flicked on the light, feeling a little guilty about the rude awakening her friend was about to get when she noticed the bed was empty.
    Empty bed, purse on the floor, shadowed figure...
    No!
    Having Rissi here now had been a bad idea. She knew it! As much as she loved her best friend, it would have been better to wait.
    Forgetting about Hunter's warning, Becca ran downstairs. If the person did something to her friend, she had to be there now! She came face to face with a startled Hunter and a bloodied Rissi.
    "What happened?" Becca glanced wearily between the two.
    Rissi cringed. "Did I ever mention I have a bad sleepwalking problem when I'm in new places? I apparently went outside and then the door was locked. I fell and scraped myself."
    Sleepwalking. So the shadow was Rissi. Carrie didn't come lurking to finish the job.
    Rebecca Lange, you are losing it.

    *****

    "Get some sleep, you two. I really didn't mean to scare you. It's been so long, I never even thought to mention it." Rissi stood at the foot of the stairs.
    Hunter held Becca close as she still couldn't calm down. Poor thing. That must have scared the hell out of her. Even without Carrie being out there somewhere, seeing a shadow coming toward your house in the middle of the night would spook anyone! It would have scared the hell out of him as well. "Guess we all have our night quirks," he replied, playing it down.
    "Becca, I'm sorry. I totally didn't mean to scare you girl."
    "I know you didn't. I'm glad I didn't go with my very first thought about grabbing a blunt object."
    Rissi made a face. "I would have done it, especially in your situation. Love you. I'll see you in the morning. Hopefully I stay in bed this time." With a little wave, she headed up the stairs. A few seconds later, they heard a door close.
    Hunter turned around to hold Becca. She leaned against him. Their bodies were so close, Hunter felt her fast heartbeat. He ran a hand up and down her back. "What were you doing up? Couldn't sleep? I turned off the stove, by the way. Want me to finish making tea?"
    Becca raised her head. Color returned to her face, but she looked so worn out. After a nod, Hunter led her to the kitchen. He gave Becca a peck on the cheek before he poured the tea in two mugs and handed her one. They moved in sync to the dining room table. Hunter set his mug down and pulled a chair out for Becca. He sat beside her, positioning his body toward her.
    "I had a horrible nightmare."
    He knew all too well about those. "What happened in it?"
    "Everyone I knew surrounded me and kept getting closer, telling me I didn't belong. Even my parents and Ellie were there."
    "Oh angel." No wonder she was freaked out tonight. Waking up from that kind of nightmare to a shadow in the yard? She must have been on her way to wake him up when she fell. He'd already heard strange sounds,